Esther L Heit Foundation Agency
Esther L Heit Foundation Agency is a private foundation, based in Helena, MT. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $82K. Net investment income was $61K.
Esther L Heit Foundation Agency at a glance
In short: Esther L Heit Foundation Agency gave $82K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), top state Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $82,050
- +17.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,256
- +17.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,650
- Total assets
- $2,130,074
- +12.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (36% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Esther L Heit Foundation Agency funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Hope & Healing Place ($15K). Together the top 8 received $82K.
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 41 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Esther L Heit Foundation Agency gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 88% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $48K (2020) to $82K (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $82K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hope & Healing Place Amarillo, TX | General Support | $14,600 |
| Prickly Pear Land Trust Helena, MT | General Support | $14,600 |
| Montanas Outdoor Legacy Foundation Helena, MT | General Support | $14,600 |
| Fisher House Rockville, MD | General Support | $7,650 |
| Operation Kindness Carrolton, TX | General Support | $7,650 |
| Redeemer Presbyterian Church Temple, TX | General Support | $7,650 |
| Colorado Cattlemans Agric Land Trust Steamboat Springs, CO | General Support | $7,650 |
| Charity Global Inc New York, NY | General Support | $7,650 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,130,074 | $60,800 | $83,272 | $82,050 | 8 | $82,550 | $60,800 | $94,147 |
| 2024 | $1,898,790 | $50,116 | $71,042 | $70,000 | 8 | $70,475 | $50,116 | $84,509 |
| 2023 | $1,613,620 | $38,530 | $71,016 | $70,000 | 8 | $70,450 | $38,530 | $70,230 |
| 2022 | $1,364,721 | $39,425 | $76,907 | $76,000 | 8 | $76,425 | $39,425 | $68,724 |
| 2021 | $1,714,565 | $50,387 | $56,430 | $55,700 | 9 | $56,100 | $34,684 | $76,392 |
| 2020 | $1,451,440 | $23,719 | $50,334 | $47,820 | 9 | — | $23,719 | $57,839 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Esther L Heit Foundation Agency reported a distributable amount of $94K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Esther L Heit Foundation Agency is led by John Heit, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John Heit
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Carol A. Hicks
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
James M. Heit
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
James P. Hicks
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Carol Heit Middleton
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Charles Middleton
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mary Lou Lubbers
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Esther L Heit Foundation Agency
How much does Esther L Heit Foundation Agency give each year?
Esther L Heit Foundation Agency gave $82K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $70K across 8 grants.
What is Esther L Heit Foundation Agency's typical grant size?
Esther L Heit Foundation Agency's median grant in 2025 was $7,650, and its average grant was $10,256, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Esther L Heit Foundation Agency give grants?
Esther L Heit Foundation Agency's top state is Texas, with 36% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Montana (36%) and Maryland (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Helena, MT (2 grants).
Does Esther L Heit Foundation Agency give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Esther L Heit Foundation Agency's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Esther L Heit Foundation Agency's largest grantees?
Esther L Heit Foundation Agency's largest 2025 grantees include Hope & Healing Place ($14,600), Prickly Pear Land Trust ($14,600) and Montanas Outdoor Legacy Foundation ($14,600), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Esther L Heit Foundation Agency?
Esther L Heit Foundation Agency reported $2.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $83K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $94K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Esther L Heit Foundation Agency's EIN?
Esther L Heit Foundation Agency's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2392220. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 6, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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